Excellent find, nonewhere. Surface tension holds a lot of dust, very interesting to learn of this aspect of pollution. Patterns and phenomenon I’ve observed having lived on the coast for a couple of years raise some concerns. I had expected living in a mostly humid semi-marine environment (I’m 8 miles inland from the shore) to find a lot less dust than in my former haunts in New Mexico. Not so. Every morning there is a thin film of ‘grime’ on smooth surfaces (vehicles, glass, etc.) that soon grows algae and eventually lichens and moss. It is feeding on minerals and particulates deposited by condensation of evaporated seawater. A natural process I’m sure, and the salts are a normal component. Pollutants binding with the salts are another matter, and add a toxic element to an already corrosive environment.
This past winter and spring witnessed a near total die-off of most sea star (starfish) species from California to Puget Sound, and it’s not over yet. After looking for a biological answer all year scientists have now all but concluded that ocean acidification is the root cause, weakening the sea stars to the point where they are vulnerable to viruses and bacteria. This is a huge event. sea stars are a “top predator” of shellfish, mussels in particular. It will take another winter of (personal) observation to see what happens on the rocks here with regards to the shellfish populations and how their loss will affect other tide zone life.
Sea stars are also a favorite food of the river otters which curiously live here on the coast. I do know that the otters are gone, I have not seen one, nor any tracks on the beaches since early this past spring, coinciding exactly with the wasting away into white goo of all the sea stars.

Your observations are good ones, and pertinent to the question I’ve long pondered: Is there anywhere at all on the entire of this planet that has NOT been either seriously diminished or totally fucked up by the human species? If there is such a place, I’m not aware — it’s certainly well beyond any place I’ve ever known.

What troubles me most is that the beat goes on, the destruction continues at ever-accelerating pace. And those who care are invariably overwhelmed by those who see nothing wrong with destruction, virtually all of which is consequential to the irrational pursuit of the two things which should count least of all in this existence: money, and power.

Overall and in the really long run, human’s self-imposed self-extinction will undoubtedly prove to be a blessing for EVERYTHING — life forms, landscapes, waters — that remains.

Once again Frugal you’ve expressed the truth of the situation clearly and eloquently.
There may be a few places left that are pristine, humans will scour the planet looking for them, and poop in them when they get there.

This was an interesting film indeed, somewhat unsettling and at the same time creating some good questions about possible aspects of an afterlife.
The depiction of the afterlife consequence of suicide (his wife) were particularly disturbing, however it did firmly convince me: “Don’t do it!”

War and censorship are rarely laughing matters, and in other hands the the 1985 film “Good Morning, Vietnam” could have been a maudlin flop. Instead, Robin Williams took on the role of Airman Second Class Adrian Cronauer and lead the cast with aplomb. While the actual Cronauer — who drafted the first version of the script — likely didn’t do impressions of the Munchkins from the Wizard of Oz during his radio sets, Williams’ performance in the DJ booth is done with such gusto and conviction that the movie rightly is remembered as one of Williams’ best. Not only did Cronauer bring levity, but he was also willing to disobey the top brass and lock himself in the studio to report the bombing of a local hang-out to the war-weary soldiers in Saigon. His performance as a soldier willing to actually learn from an understand the locals people he was deployed to protect also helped the film rise above the war-movie genre and become something special.

The movie also vividly demonstrated the consequences of the absolute atrocity that defined America’s presence there, and the sickening dementia of the underlying politic. Sadly, nothing has changed, not even after fifty fucking years.

“”You don’t have to act with me, Steve. You don’t have to say anything and you don’t have to do anything. Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together and … blow.”

Don’t give up – no need to go away!
For some reason that video (and the one I attempted to post) play on YouTube
but doesn’t want to paste and play here. It’s possible there’s a copyright thing going on.

Ah, Robin. In the terminology of my favorite writer, when you took on your Aspect of Entertainer and raised your Attribute of Emotion you could make even a marble statue laugh, cry, think and feel. You offered so much and it diminishes us as a society that we couldn’t give you back as much as you gave. Sadly, we will mourn your loss without ever understanding how we contributed to it. Be at rest, oh crazed bard, your tasks are done as much as they could be. You will be missed greatly.